Free The Vow: The True Events That Inspired the Movie by Kim Carpenter, Krickitt Carpenter, Dana Wilkerson Page A
inevitable setbacks in her therapy.
Clowning around trying to get reacquainted, February 1994.
Hiking the summer after the accident. Behind the smiles, our relationship was coming apart. Divorce was never an option, but there were times we thought we could never live together again under the same roof.
Krickitt and her family at the North Eastern Regional Hospital rehab center where she worked before the accident, back on the job in the summer of ’94. That’s Gretchen, Grace, and Jamey up front, with her parents and me in back.
Building new memories.
Getting to know each other again while visiting Krickitt’s parents in Phoenix.
Our second wedding ceremony, May 25, 1996, at a remote mountain chapel in New Mexico. It didn’t even have electricity, but the view was awesome.
We had agreed to use our original wedding rings in the second ceremony. But each of us secretly bought a second ring for the other, so we had four rings to juggle.
The second wedding party, facing a throng of reporters and photographers from the London Times, Inside Edition, People magazine, Day and Date, and other media. For keeping our original wedding vows, we’d become celebrities.
At the reception after the second ceremony, three key players in our story: Scott Madsen, Krickitt’s physical therapist; Marcy Madsen, recreational therapist; and Bob Grothe, flight nurse.
Krickitt’s dad, Gus Pappas, with DJ Coombs, the EMT who overcame her own claustrophobia to climb into our wrecked car and treat Krickitt while she was still trapped inside.
Our second honeymoon in Maui.
In Maui our second time around, strangers recognized us on the street, and a California radio station woke us up at 4:00 A.M. for a live interview.
Backstage in New York with Krickitt’s parents and Maury Povich.
Relaxing in Arizona at the Miraval Resort, compliments of The Leeza Show.
Enjoying God’s great miracle—a new life together.
Our wedding rings. Special to me (Kim) is my wedding band. Made from the first wedding ring and a new ring Krickett gave me for the second wedding. The two were melted and shaped into one that has the look of both.
Kim and Krickitt arm and arm in the back yard.
Hanging out in the back with the kids, Danny and LeeAnn.
Having some yogurt at the local Aspen Leaf Yogurt Shop. The family favorite is Cake Batter!
A stroll along the local Riverwalk in Farmington, New Mexico. Still in love and always will be!
LeeAnn, Dad, Mom, and Danny sitting on the sandstone out the back gate of our home.
Hanging out at the Riverwalk in our hometown of Farmington.
The family, football, and the pups Muffin, Joey, Sugar, and Fritzi.
5
MOVING ALONG
W hen Krickitt made her declaration of singleness in such a matter-of-fact way, it felt like someone had thrust a knife deeply into my chest. I looked into her eyes, praying for even the slightest hint that she recognized me. She looked back at me with the gaze of a stranger. Until that point I had hope that my wife, at some level, knew I was her husband. After all, I had been with her for most of her waking moments since the accident. She recognized me when I walked through the door, and she answered back when I spoke to her. But I realized she did the same to the medical personnel. To my wife, I was just another person who was helping her recover. It finally hit me that she had absolutely no idea who I was. I staggered out of Krickitt’s room and into the hall, hammering the wall with my fist. Even the searing pain in my broken hand—still in a soft cast—couldn’t penetrate my rage.
As fierce as my reaction was, it quickly faded. Spent and defeated, I soon walked back into Krickitt’s room and stood beside her bed. She looked up at me without anger or curiosity. She just seemed to be waiting for me to speak to her as I always did. I opened my mouth but found I had nothing to say.
Krickitt’s neuropsychologist at Barrow, Dr. Kevin Obrien, explained Krickitt’s diagnosis
Clowning around trying to get reacquainted, February 1994.
Hiking the summer after the accident. Behind the smiles, our relationship was coming apart. Divorce was never an option, but there were times we thought we could never live together again under the same roof.
Krickitt and her family at the North Eastern Regional Hospital rehab center where she worked before the accident, back on the job in the summer of ’94. That’s Gretchen, Grace, and Jamey up front, with her parents and me in back.
Building new memories.
Getting to know each other again while visiting Krickitt’s parents in Phoenix.
Our second wedding ceremony, May 25, 1996, at a remote mountain chapel in New Mexico. It didn’t even have electricity, but the view was awesome.
We had agreed to use our original wedding rings in the second ceremony. But each of us secretly bought a second ring for the other, so we had four rings to juggle.
The second wedding party, facing a throng of reporters and photographers from the London Times, Inside Edition, People magazine, Day and Date, and other media. For keeping our original wedding vows, we’d become celebrities.
At the reception after the second ceremony, three key players in our story: Scott Madsen, Krickitt’s physical therapist; Marcy Madsen, recreational therapist; and Bob Grothe, flight nurse.
Krickitt’s dad, Gus Pappas, with DJ Coombs, the EMT who overcame her own claustrophobia to climb into our wrecked car and treat Krickitt while she was still trapped inside.
Our second honeymoon in Maui.
In Maui our second time around, strangers recognized us on the street, and a California radio station woke us up at 4:00 A.M. for a live interview.
Backstage in New York with Krickitt’s parents and Maury Povich.
Relaxing in Arizona at the Miraval Resort, compliments of The Leeza Show.
Enjoying God’s great miracle—a new life together.
Our wedding rings. Special to me (Kim) is my wedding band. Made from the first wedding ring and a new ring Krickett gave me for the second wedding. The two were melted and shaped into one that has the look of both.
Kim and Krickitt arm and arm in the back yard.
Hanging out in the back with the kids, Danny and LeeAnn.
Having some yogurt at the local Aspen Leaf Yogurt Shop. The family favorite is Cake Batter!
A stroll along the local Riverwalk in Farmington, New Mexico. Still in love and always will be!
LeeAnn, Dad, Mom, and Danny sitting on the sandstone out the back gate of our home.
Hanging out at the Riverwalk in our hometown of Farmington.
The family, football, and the pups Muffin, Joey, Sugar, and Fritzi.
5
MOVING ALONG
W hen Krickitt made her declaration of singleness in such a matter-of-fact way, it felt like someone had thrust a knife deeply into my chest. I looked into her eyes, praying for even the slightest hint that she recognized me. She looked back at me with the gaze of a stranger. Until that point I had hope that my wife, at some level, knew I was her husband. After all, I had been with her for most of her waking moments since the accident. She recognized me when I walked through the door, and she answered back when I spoke to her. But I realized she did the same to the medical personnel. To my wife, I was just another person who was helping her recover. It finally hit me that she had absolutely no idea who I was. I staggered out of Krickitt’s room and into the hall, hammering the wall with my fist. Even the searing pain in my broken hand—still in a soft cast—couldn’t penetrate my rage.
As fierce as my reaction was, it quickly faded. Spent and defeated, I soon walked back into Krickitt’s room and stood beside her bed. She looked up at me without anger or curiosity. She just seemed to be waiting for me to speak to her as I always did. I opened my mouth but found I had nothing to say.
Krickitt’s neuropsychologist at Barrow, Dr. Kevin Obrien, explained Krickitt’s diagnosis
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